The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today announced $60 million awarded to “states, cities, and territories to support efforts to protect Americans from Zika virus disease and adverse health outcomes that can result from Zika infection, including the serious birth defect microcephaly.” That includes $1.3* million to Arkansas. The funding will become available on August 1; Arkansas previously received $300,000 from the CDC on July 1.
As the Times has previously reported, five patients in Arkansas have tested positive for Zika — all of them acquired the disease while travelling outside of the continental United States. The Obama administration has requested $2 billion to fight Zika but Congress has not yet approved those funds.
*The CDC initially sent out an erroneous release about the funding. Our previously said Arkansas would get $5.6 million in funding.